…Anambra’s 8-man panel confirms manipulation, gives recommendations
The management of Innoson Automobile Company, has withdrawn the N3 million scholarship awarded to Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme over her involvement in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) result manipulation.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Cornel Osigwe, Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Onitsha.
According to him, in recent days, we have been involved in the process of investigating allegations surrounding the 2023 UTME examination results of one of our scholarship recipients, Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme.
“It was reported initially that Miss Joy scored exceptionally high on the exam, a feat that led to her being awarded a scholarship by our company.
“However, subsequent reports of discrepancies in her UTME score led us to seek clarification from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and to allow her to voice her stance, we engaged in direct dialogue with Miss Joy.
“Further to this, a committee set up by Gov. Charles Soludo, carried out a thorough independent investigation into this matter,” he said.
Osigwe noted that the findings from the rigorous investigation have now confirmed that Miss Mmesoma did manipulate her UTME results.
“This conclusion is deeply disappointing and stands in direct contravention of the values we hold dear at Innoson Vehicles, particularly those that underscore our scholarship program.
“In line with these principles and response to the confirmed findings, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the scholarship awarded to Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme.
“This action is a testament to our unyielding commitment to honesty, integrity, and merit-based recognition,” he said.
He acknowledged that the development was regrettable, and it has undoubtedly caused dismay among those who stood by Miss Mmesoma.
He assured that Innoson Vehicles remained steadfast in its mission to support deserving students, invest in the future of the education sector, and upheld the highest ethical standards.
Mmesoma admits forgery
The teenager confirmed she single-handedly forged the result before approaching a cyber cafe for printing.
8-man panel from Anambra
The eight-man panel set up by Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to investigate alleged forgery of result of Joint Administration and Matriculation Board (JAMB) by Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme has indicted her of manipulating the examination score result.
In an eight-page report submitted after its findings, the panel headed by Prof. Nkemdili Nnonyelu said it discovered the suspect changed her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, (UTME) result after she openly confessed doing so.
According to the panel, Mmesoma admitted in the presence of her principal, and the Education Secretary that narration by JAMB officials was true description of what transpired.
It said she also admitted to have given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using same phone Airtel Number.
The panel demanded immediate and unreserved written apology from Mmesoma to JAMB, the School (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi) and the Anambra State Government.
It also recommended that Mmesoma underwent psychological counselling and therapy.
The Committee report reads in part, “JAMB revealed the different times that Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma made several requests to JAMB portal asking for her results at different hours, and each of these times (four in number), she received in her phone, same results from JAMB indicating candidate’s UTME Results to wit: Eng: 64, Phy:54, Bio: 74, Che: 57 with a total aggregate score of 249.
“JAMB disclosed that the candidate was well informed of her correct score from JAMB. Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma had sent a request to JAMB with a different registration number showing a UTM E result of aggregate score of 362, with Eng: 98, Phy: 89, Bio: 94, and Che: 81. The results she sent differed substantially from the standard JAMB format where she got an appropriate rebuttal stating her real score of 249.
“Besides, a number of red-flags was also highlighted by JAMB officials showing different date of birth, different Registration Number, Notification of results template that has been discarded since 2021, amongst others.
“It was also evident that even the centre name Nkemefuna Foundation (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development as it was known before now) used for the examination was also manipulated where the candidate used the old name of the centre (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development) in her own manipulated result sheet.
“In Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s submission, she owned up in the presence of her principal, and the Education Secretary that the narration by the JAMB officials was a true and correct description of what transpired.
“She also admitted to have given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using same phone Airtel Number. According to her, she proceeded to the cybercafe (Prisca Global Computers, Uruagu, Nnewi) where she printed the results she had manipulated.
“The Committee tried to find out the motive behind her action, but Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma said NOTHING. In their own submissions, the Principal Anglican Girls’ Secondary school, Uruagu Nnewi, and the Education Secretary – Diocese of Nnewi (Anglican Communion) expressed shock at what transpired where in their presence, Mmesoma admitted to have manipulated her UTME results, deceiving the school, her immediate family and the State Government.
“COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS: The results released by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with respect to the UTME score of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma is 249
“The results paraded by Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma with aggregate score of 362 1s fake as buttressed by the very significant and instructive variations in the registration number, date of birth, centre name and other Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma admitted that she manipulated the fake results herself.
“The Principal Anglican Girls’ Secondary School – Mrs. Edu Uche and the Education Secretary, Diocese of Nnewi (Anglican Communion) expressed dismay at the conduct of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma.
“RECOMMENDATIONS: That Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma tenders an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the School (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi) and the Anambra State Government. This should be done immediately.
“EJikeme Joy Mmesoma should undergo a psychological counselling and therapyAllprospective candidates for JAMB Adm1ss1on should adhere strictly to guidelines processes and procedures of the examination body.
“CONCLUSION: The Committee of Inquiry commends Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for their diligent handling of the matter and the information supplied about the interface with the candidate (see attached).
“We hope that this unearthing of the truth as we have discovered will go a long way in correcting the sentiments, misconceptions and deceptions that have been in the public domain.”
